JPWO2008084813A1 - Defoaming apparatus and molding apparatus equipped with the apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

A viscous fluid degassing apparatus comprising a container having a viscous fluid storage section and a viscous fluid supply port and a discharge port communicating with the storage section, the supply pipe supplying the viscous fluid to the supply port, A supply control device for the viscous fluid at the supply port, a sprinkler for discharging the viscous fluid supplied from the supply port into the housing portion, a pressure control device within the storage portion, and a discharge pipe for discharging the viscous fluid from the discharge port A defoaming device including a discharge control device for the viscous fluid at the discharge port, and a molding machine including the defoaming device. The defoaming device of the present invention can efficiently defoam even a highly viscous fluid such as liquid silicone rubber, does not require a complicated defoaming mechanism, and is also defoamed viscous fluid. Can be continuously supplied. Further, the molding machine of the present invention can provide a molded product in which bubbles and chips are not generated.

Description

  This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2007-4366 for which it applied to Japan on January 12, 2007, and uses the content here.

    The present invention relates to a defoaming apparatus for viscous fluid such as liquid silicone rubber, and also relates to a molding apparatus including the defoaming apparatus.

    Conventionally, in a molding material molding apparatus made of a viscous fluid such as liquid silicone rubber, it is common to supply the molding material to a molding machine with a drum pump or the like via a quantitative supply device as necessary.

    However, for example, when the drum pump is installed in the drum of the molding material, or when the remaining amount of the molding material in the drum is low and the drum pump is blown away, air is supplied to the molding material being supplied. May be mixed. In particular, when a highly viscous fluid having high thixotropy and poor fluidity is used as a molding material, such as liquid silicone rubber, depending on the drum pump, even if the liquid silicone rubber remains sufficiently in the drum, it is frequently emptied. Strike occurs and air tends to be mixed into the liquid silicone rubber. If air is mixed into the molding material to form bubbles as described above, it is impossible to quantitatively supply the molding material, and bubbles or chips are generated in the molded product. The possibility of such air contamination is not limited to the supply process by the drum pump, but potentially exists in all operations involving fluids.

    Therefore, for example, when a molding material is supplied using a drum pump, the drum pump is stopped and a drum is exchanged with a considerable amount of the molding material left in the drum to prevent idling. However, it was inefficient due to the loss of molding material. There is also a method of observing the operation cycle of the drum pump, detecting idle shots by cycle fluctuations, and immediately stopping the drum pump when the occurrence of idle shots is detected to prevent air from entering the molding material. However, when intermittent quantitative supply of the molding material is required as in the case of injection molding, there has been a problem that it is practically impossible to detect idling due to periodic fluctuations. Even with such a method, it is not possible to prevent air from being mixed into the molding material at the time of drum replacement, and it is necessary to remove bubbles in the molding material supply line leading to the molding machine at the time of drum replacement. there were.

In order to cope with such a problem, defoaming is performed before the molding material is supplied to the molding machine. For example, as described in JP-A-6-142409, the molding material is stirred. A type of defoaming device that defoams is known.
JP-A-6-142409

    However, in the case of a highly viscous fluid such as liquid silicone rubber, uniform stirring is physically difficult, and complete removal of bubbles by stirring is virtually impossible. Further, since the defoaming apparatus is complicated by the stirring mechanism or the like, defoaming by stirring is not preferable in practice. In addition, since the supply of the molding material to the molding machine is delayed during the defoaming operation, continuous molding operation is impossible.

    The present invention has been made in view of the state of the art as described above, and can efficiently defoam even a highly viscous fluid such as liquid silicone rubber, and a complicated defoaming mechanism can be provided. It is an object of the present invention to provide a viscous fluid defoaming apparatus which can supply a defoamed viscous fluid continuously to a molding machine or the like without being necessary.

    Another object of the present invention is to provide a viscous fluid molding apparatus that is equipped with such a defoaming apparatus and that can be operated continuously for a long period of time, and that does not generate bubbles or chips in the molded product.

An object of the present invention is a viscous fluid defoaming device including a container having a viscous fluid container and a supply port and a discharge port for the viscous fluid communicating with the container.
A supply pipe for supplying the viscous fluid to the supply port;
A control device for supplying the viscous fluid at the supply port;
A sprinkler that discharges the viscous fluid supplied from the supply port into the accommodating portion;
A pressure control device in the housing,
A discharge pipe for discharging the viscous fluid from the discharge port;
This is achieved by a defoaming device including a discharge control device for the viscous fluid at the discharge port. The number of containers may be two or more.

    The sprinkler preferably has a hole and / or a slit for discharging the viscous fluid.

    It is preferable that the defoaming device includes a plate that covers at least a part of the surface of the viscous fluid in the housing portion and is movable in the housing portion in the direction of the discharge port. As the covering portion, the surface in the vicinity of the viscous fluid discharge port is preferable.

    In particular, it is preferable that the sprinkler is arranged in an annular shape and the plate can pass through the inside of the ring.

    If necessary, the plate can have the function of the sprinkler.

    The viscosity of the viscous fluid preferable as a target for defoaming by the defoaming apparatus of the present invention is in the range of 1,000 to 50,000,000 mPa · s, more preferably in the range of 10,000 to 10,000,000 mPa · s. Even more preferably, it is in the range of 100,000 to 10,000,000 mPa · s. The defoaming device of the present invention can be suitably used particularly for a highly viscous liquid silicone rubber having a viscosity in the above range.

The object of the present invention is to
The defoaming device, and
It is also achieved by a molding device including a molding machine for the viscous fluid discharged from the discharge port of the defoaming device.

    The molding apparatus preferably includes a viscous fluid quantitative supply device between the defoaming device and the molding machine.

    The defoaming device of the present invention can efficiently defoam even a highly viscous fluid such as liquid silicone rubber. Moreover, the defoaming device of the present invention does not require a complicated defoaming mechanism such as a stirring device, and the defoaming operation can be continuously performed by a simple mechanism. When the defoaming device of the present invention includes a plurality of tanks, one tank has been defoamed by repeating the defoaming of the viscous fluid in another tank while discharging the degassed viscous fluid. A viscous fluid can be continuously supplied.

    Further, the molding apparatus of the present invention includes the above-described defoaming apparatus, so that bubbles or chips are not generated in the molded product even when a highly viscous fluid such as liquid silicone rubber is used as a molding material. Moreover, since it is not necessary to interrupt the operation of the molding apparatus for defoaming the molding material, a long-term continuous operation is possible.

    In particular, when supplying a viscous fluid, which is a molding material, using a drum pump, even if the drum pump is struck, air mixed by struck is completely removed from the viscous fluid by the defoaming device. Therefore, it is not necessary to replace the drum with a large amount of viscous fluid remaining in the drum to prevent idling. Therefore, there is little loss of the molding material and efficient molding can be performed.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, the defoaming device of the present invention will be described.

    FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing one embodiment of the viscous fluid defoaming apparatus of the present invention. The defoaming apparatus A of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 defoams a high-viscosity liquid silicone rubber having a viscosity in the range of 1,000 to 50,000,000 mPa · s as a viscous fluid. Two cylindrical tanks 1a and 1b are provided as containers.

    In the defoaming apparatus A of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, the two tanks 1a and 1b are respectively provided with liquid silicone rubber supply ports 2a and 2b, accommodating portions 3a and 3b, and discharge ports 4a and 4b. The liquid silicone rubber supplied from the supply ports 2a and 2b via the supply pipe 5 (not shown) is accommodated in the accommodating portions 3a and 3b and discharged from the discharge ports 4a and 4b via the discharge pipe 6 (not shown in detail). The

    The tanks 1a and 1b have vacuum pumps 7a and 7b as pressure control devices capable of depressurizing and pressurizing the interiors of the accommodating portions 3a and 3b, and a pressure-reducing valve (not shown), respectively. The pressure in the accommodating portions 3a and 3b can be appropriately adjusted by driving control of the return pressure valve.

  The tanks 1a and 1b have valves 8a and 8b as supply control devices for the supply ports 2a and 2b, and valves 9a and 9b as discharge control devices for the discharge ports 4a and 4b, respectively. 1, the supply ports 2a and 2b can be opened and closed by the valves 8a and 8b, and the discharge ports 4a and 4b can be opened and closed by the valves 9a and 9b.

    And tank 1a, 1b is equipped with sprinkler 10a, 10b which discharges the liquid silicone rubber supplied from supply port 2a, 2b in accommodating part 3a, 3b, respectively. In the aspect shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 2, 10b is comprised of a hollow annular pipe having a large number of holes 10c. Note that the sprinklers 10a and 10b are not limited to an annular shape, and may have any shape such as a substantially square or a substantially rectangular shape according to the shape of the tanks 1a and 1b. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the sprinklers 10a and 10b are fixed to the ceiling 3c of the accommodating portions 3a and 3b of the tanks 1a and 1b, respectively, and the liquid supplied to the sprinklers 10a and 10b from the supply ports 2a and 2b. The silicone rubber is discharged in a shower shape from the hole 10c onto the upper portions of the accommodating portions 3a and 3b, and spontaneously falls to the lower portions of the accommodating portions 3a and 3b.

    Furthermore, the tanks 1a and 1b respectively include disk-shaped plates 11a and 11b connected to rods 12a and 12b penetrating through the ceiling 3c of the accommodating portions 3a and 3b. The plates 11a and 11b are provided with the accommodating portions 3a and 11b, respectively. At least a part of the surface of the liquid silicone rubber in 3b can be coated. The rods 12a and 12b are driven up and down by the actuators 13a and 13b, whereby the plates 11a and 11b pass through the spaces inside the annular sprinklers 10a and 10b in the housing portions 3a and 3b. It is possible to move up and down in the direction of 4b.

    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the hollow annular sprinkler 10 (a, b) has a circular cross section, vertically downward from the center of the cross section, and the horizontal direction on the center side (inside) of the sprinkler 10 (a, b). In addition, a large number of holes 10c are opened approximately 45 ° below the center side (inner side) of the sprinkler 10 (a, b). When the hole 10c opens toward the wall surface of the housing portion 3 (a, b), the liquid silicone rubber discharged from the hole 10c reaches the wall surface and falls along the wall surface, so that the defoaming efficiency may be reduced. . Therefore, the hole 10c is preferably opened toward the center side of the sprinkler 10 (a, b) as shown in FIG. In the example shown in FIG. 2, the hole 10 c provided in the sprinkler 10 (a, b) has a circular shape with a diameter of several millimeters, but the shape of the hole 10 c is arbitrary. It can take various shapes such as. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the holes 10c are provided in three rows at equal intervals in an annular shape, but the arrangement and intervals of the holes 10c are arbitrary and can be adjusted as needed.

    FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view showing another aspect of the sprinklers 10a and 10b. In this aspect, a large number of slits 10d having a width of several millimeters are formed on the lower surface of the sprinkler 10 (a, b). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the slits 10d are annularly arranged in two rows, but the arrangement and spacing of the slits 10d are also arbitrary and can be adjusted as necessary. For example, a large number of slits 10d may be provided radially in the radial direction of the annular sprinklers 10a and 10b.

    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, it is preferable that the liquid silicone rubber falls from the sprinklers 10a and 10b as evenly as possible to the lower portions of the housing portions 3a and 3b. Therefore, if necessary, both the hole 10c and the slit 10d may be formed in the sprinklers 10a and 10b, and a part of the sprinklers 10a and 10b may be formed in order to evenly drop the liquid silicone rubber. Neither the hole 10c nor the slit 10d may be formed.

    In the following, the operation of the defoaming apparatus shown in FIG. 1 will be described. In the defoaming apparatus A shown in FIG. 1, the defoaming / discharging operation of the liquid silicone rubber is alternately performed in the tanks 1a and 1b. Here, the aspect which performs defoaming operation in the tank 1a first is demonstrated.

    First, the vacuum pump 7a is driven to bring the inside of the housing 3a into a reduced pressure state. Next, the valve 8a is opened with the valve 8b closed, and the liquid silicone rubber supplied from the supply pipe 5 is introduced into the internal space of the hollow annular sprinkler 10a through the supply port 2a. The liquid silicone rubber introduced into the internal space of the sprinkler 10a is discharged in a shower shape from the hole 10c on the surface of the sprinkler 10a in the upper portion of the accommodating portion 3a of the tank 1a. The liquid silicone rubber discharged into the accommodating part 3a falls freely from the upper part to the lower part of the accommodating part 3a.

    In the accommodating part 3a, when passing through the hole 10c of the sprinkler 10a, bubbles larger than the diameter of the hole 10c are removed from the liquid silicone rubber. Further, since the liquid silicone rubber becomes shower-like and increases the surface area, the small bubbles that have passed through the holes 10c are removed from the liquid silicone rubber in a relatively short time, coupled with the reduced pressure state in the housing 3a. Thereby, defoaming can be performed efficiently without stirring a highly viscous fluid such as liquid silicone rubber. The discharge amount and discharge speed of the liquid silicone rubber from the sprinkler 10a are controlled by the number and size of the holes 10c, the degree of decompression in the housing 3a, the supply amount and supply speed of the liquid silicone rubber from the supply pipe 5, and the like. be able to. The same applies when the slit 10d shown in FIG. 3 is employed instead of the hole 10c.

    The liquid silicone rubber discharged from the sprinkler 10a into the accommodating portion 3a of the tank 1a is defoamed and accumulated in the accommodating portion 3a. The valve 8a is closed at a timing when a predetermined amount of liquid silicone rubber is accumulated. Since the inside of the container 3a is in a reduced pressure state, bubbles are naturally removed from the liquid surface of the accumulated liquid silicone rubber. Thus, even if air is mixed in the liquid silicone rubber supplied from the supply pipe 5 and air bubbles are included, the liquid silicone rubber is discharged under a reduced pressure atmosphere in a state where the surface area is increased. It is possible to efficiently remove bubbles.

    Next, the decompression valve (not shown) is opened to return the inside of the housing portion 3a to normal pressure, the valve 9a is opened with the valve 9b closed, and the defoamed liquid silicone rubber in the housing portion 3a is A discharge operation is performed to discharge the tank 1a from the discharge port 4a.

  Here, when a highly viscous fluid such as liquid silicone rubber is discharged, a so-called “rat hole” may be generated immediately above the discharge port 4a, as shown in FIG. When the rat hole is generated, there is a possibility that bubbles are mixed again in the liquid silicone rubber discharged from the discharge port 4a. Therefore, in the tank 1a of the defoaming apparatus A shown in FIG. 1, in order to prevent ratholes, the plate 11a is brought into contact with at least the liquid level near the discharge port 4a of the liquid silicone rubber from the discharge port 4a. Drain the liquid silicone rubber.

    Since the plate 11a can be moved up and down by the actuator 13a via the rod 12a, the liquid silicone is gradually moved downward as the defoamed liquid silicone rubber in the accommodating portion 3a is lowered. The liquid surface of rubber can always be coated. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, since the plate 11a can pass through the inside of the annular sprinkler 10a, the plate 11a descending as the liquid level of the liquid silicone rubber descends contacts the sprinkler 10a and below it. Movement to is not hindered.

    The defoamed liquid silicone rubber discharged from the discharge port 4a is supplied to the next step (not shown in FIG. 1) through the valve 9a through the discharge pipe 6. When the discharge of the defoamed liquid silicone rubber from the tank 1a is completed, the valve 9a is closed, the plate 11a is raised, and the above defoaming operation is repeated.

    On the other hand, in the tank 1b, the same operations as the defoaming operation and the discharging operation in the tank 1a are performed, but the tank 1b does not perform the same operation as the tank 1a. That is, while the defoaming operation is being performed in the tank 1a, the defoamed liquid silicone rubber having been defoamed is discharged in the tank 1b, and the defoamed liquid in the tank 1a. While the silicone rubber discharging operation is being performed, the defoaming operation is performed in the tank 1b. FIG. 1 shows a state in which a defoaming operation is performed in the tank 1a while a discharging operation is performed in the tank 1b.

    As described above, by alternately performing the defoaming and discharging operation of the liquid silicone rubber in the tanks 1a and 1b, the defoaming of the liquid silicone rubber can be performed continuously. It can be continuously supplied to the next step. In particular, since the liquid silicone rubber supplied from the supply pipe 5 may contain bubbles, when supplying the liquid silicone rubber from the drum to the supply pipe 5, a large amount is provided in the drum. It is not necessary to always leave the liquid silicone rubber. Therefore, the loss of the liquid silicone rubber in the drum can be minimized by using the defoaming device of the present invention.

    1, the sprinklers 10a and 10b are separate from the tanks 1a and 1b. However, the sprinklers 10a and 10b may be integrated with the tanks 1a and 1b. . 5 and 6 are views showing another embodiment of the defoaming device of the present invention, in which the sprinkler 10 (a, b) is the ceiling 3c of the accommodating portion 3 (a, b) of the tank 1 (a, b). 1 is different from the defoaming apparatus of FIG. In order to simplify the display, the plate 11 (a, b), the rod 12 (a, b), the actuator 13 (a, b), and the vacuum pump 7 (a, b) shown in FIG. In FIG.

    In the example shown in FIG. 5, the ceiling 3c that constitutes the upper surface of the accommodating portion 3 (a, b) is hollow, and the hollow portion communicates with the supply port 2 (a, b). In the example shown in FIG. 5, as shown in detail in FIG. 5B, a number of holes 10 c are provided on the lower surface of the ceiling 3 c to form sprinklers 10 (a, b). Thereby, as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the liquid silicone rubber supplied from the supply ports 2 (a, b) is discharged from the holes 10c and freely directed toward the lower part of the accommodating portion 3 (a, b). It falls and is degassed.

    In the example shown in FIG. 6, as in the example shown in FIG. 5, the ceiling 3 c constituting the upper surface of the housing portion 3 (a, b) is hollow and communicates with the supply port 2 (a, b). However, in the example shown in FIG. 6, a large number of holes 10 c are provided in the upper part of the side walls constituting the accommodating portions 3 (a, b) instead of the ceiling 3 c, and the hollow jacket-like sprinkler 10 ( a, b) are arranged on the upper part of the side wall and integrated with the accommodating part 3 (a, b). Since the hollow part of the sprinkler 10 (a, b) and the hollow part of the ceiling 3c are communicated with each other, the liquid silicone rubber supplied from the supply port 2 (a, b) is in the ceiling 3c as shown in FIG. It moves to the hollow part in the sprinkler 10 (a, b) through the hollow part, is discharged from the hole 10c provided in the upper side wall of the accommodating part 3 (a, b), and the accommodating part 3 (a, b) Free fall toward the bottom. Thereby, the liquid silicone rubber is defoamed.

    5 and 6, the structure of the sprinkler 10 (a, b) can be simplified as compared with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, and the manufacturing cost of the defoaming device can be reduced. In addition, as compared with the aspect shown in FIG. 1 in which the sprinkler 10 (a, b) is provided in the space in the housing portion 3 (a, b), a larger volume in the housing portion 3 can be secured. And since the discharge port of liquid silicone rubber can be made as upper as possible of the accommodating part 3 (a, b), defoaming efficiency is also improved.

    FIG. 7 is a view showing another embodiment of the defoaming device of the present invention, and the form of the plate 11 (a, b) is different from the defoaming device of FIG. Note that the illustration of the vacuum pump 7 (a, b) in FIG. 1 is omitted in FIG.

    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the plate 11 (a, b) has a through passage reaching the both surfaces of the plate 11 (a, b) at the center, and a thin rod-shaped pole 14 is inserted into the through passage. Has been. One end of the pole 14 is fixed to the discharge port 4 (a, b), and the other end is fixed to the ceiling 3c on the vertical line of the discharge port 4 (a, b). Therefore, the plate 11 (a, b) can be moved up and down in the accommodating portion 3 (a, b) along the pole 14, thereby following the decrease in the liquid level of the liquid silicone rubber during the discharging operation. Thus, the liquid level of the liquid silicone rubber around the discharge port 4 (a, b) can be reliably covered.

    In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the plate 11 is used as a “drop lid”, and the rod 12 and the actuator 13 shown in FIG. 1 are not required for its vertical movement. Therefore, the plate 11 is compared with the embodiment shown in FIG. The surrounding structure can be simplified, and the manufacturing cost of the defoaming device can be reduced.

    FIG. 8 is a view showing still another aspect of the defoaming device of the present invention, in that the plate 11 (a, b) has the function of the sprinkler 10 (a, b) shown in FIG. It differs from the defoaming apparatus of FIG. The vacuum pump 7 (a, b) in FIG. 1 is not shown in FIG.

    In the example shown in FIG. 8, the inside of the plate 11 (a, b) is hollow, and a large number of holes or slits are formed on the bottom and / or side of the plate 11 (a, b). . Further, a supply passage 12c for liquid silicone rubber is provided in the rod 12 (a, b), and the liquid silicone rubber supplied from a supply pipe (not shown) is placed in the hollow portion of the plate 11 (a, b). be introduced. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, the liquid silicone rubber introduced into the plate 11 (a, b) from the supply path 12c passes through the hollow portion of the plate 11 (a, b) and passes through the plate 11 (a, b). Is discharged from a large number of holes or slits provided on the bottom surface and / or the side surface, and freely falls toward the lower part of the accommodating portion 3 (a, b).

    In the aspect shown in FIG. 8, compared with the aspect shown in FIG. 1, the sprinkler 10 can be omitted, and the manufacturing cost of the defoaming device can be reduced. Moreover, compared with the aspect shown in FIG. 1 which has the sprinkler 10 in the space in the accommodating part 3, the volume in the accommodating part 3 can be ensured more.

  However, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, when further increasing the defoaming efficiency of the liquid silicone rubber is intended, in addition to the plate 11 (a, b) having a function as a sprinkler, the sprinkler as shown in FIG. 10 (a, b) may be provided separately.

    FIG. 9 is a view showing still another embodiment of the defoaming apparatus of the present invention.

    In the example shown in FIG. 9, the plate 11 (a, b) having a large number of holes or slits on the bottom surface is in close contact with the inner wall of the storage unit 3 (a, b) via the seal member 11d. b) The internal space is divided into two, and a pipe 12d for pumping gas from a gas supply source (not shown) into the supply path 12c is connected via a valve 12e in the middle of the rod 12 (a, b). And a pipe 3d for pumping gas from a gas supply source (not shown) to a space between the ceiling 3c in the housing 3 (a, b) and the plate 11 (a, b), and the space 8 is different from the defoaming device of FIG. 8 in that the piping 3f for discharging the gas inside is connected to the ceiling 3c of the accommodating portion 3 (a, b) via the valve 3e and the valve 3g, respectively.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, as shown in FIG. 9A, during the defoaming operation, the liquid silicone rubber supplied from a supply pipe (not shown) with the valve 12e, the valve 3e and the valve 3g closed. Is introduced into the hollow portion of the plate 11 (a, b), discharged into the accommodating portion 3 (a, b) from the hole or slit, and freely falls toward the lower portion of the accommodating portion 3 (a, b). Since the space below the plate 11 (a, b) in the accommodating portion 3 (a, b) is reduced in pressure by a vacuum pump (not shown), the liquid silicone discharged from the plate 11 (a, b) The rubber is well degassed.

    On the other hand, during the discharge operation of the liquid silicone rubber from the discharge ports 4 (a, b), as shown in FIG. 9 (b), the valve 3e is opened, and the ceiling 3c in the housing portion 3 (a, b) is opened. And gas are pumped into the space between the plate 11 (a, b). As a result, the plate 11 (a, b) descends to cover the liquid silicone rubber liquid level, and further follows the liquid silicone rubber liquid level descending with the discharging operation. Can be prevented.

  After the completion of the discharge operation from the discharge ports 4 (a, b), as shown in FIG. 9C, the valve 3e is closed and the valve 12e and the valve 3g are opened, and the gas is supplied into the supply path 12c. Pump. As a result, gas is introduced from the holes or slits on the lower surface of the plate 11 (a, b) toward the space below the plate 11 (a, b) in the accommodating portion 3 (a, b). 11 (a, b) rises and returns to the original position.

  In this way, in the example shown in FIG. 9, the vertical movement of the plate 11 (a, b) can be controlled only by the pumped gas from the pipe 3d and the pipe 12d, so that the actuator 13 (a, b) can be omitted, and the structure of the defoaming device can be simplified.

  FIG. 10 is a view showing still another embodiment of the defoaming apparatus of the present invention.

  The defoaming apparatus A of the present invention shown in FIG. 10 is different from the defoaming apparatus of FIG. 1 in that one tank 1 is used as a container for defoaming. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the discharge pipe 6 extending from the discharge port 4 of the tank 1 includes a liquid feed pump 15 together with the valve 9, and the end of the discharge pipe 6 is integrated with the opening end 17 below the storage tank 16. Yes. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the end of the pipe 18 having a smaller cross-sectional area than the opening area of the opening end 17 is located in the opening end 17, and the pipe 18 measures the liquid silicone rubber in the storage tank 16. A predetermined amount is conveyed to the next process (not shown) by the action of the pump 19. A vacuum pump and a return pressure valve (not shown) are provided on the ceiling of the storage tank 16 so that the pressure in the storage tank 16 can be adjusted as appropriate.

  In the defoaming apparatus A of FIG. 10, the tank 1 and the storage tank 16 are cylindrical, but the lower part has a taper, and the container walls of the tank 1 and the storage tank 16 are the discharge port 4 and the open end 17 respectively. It has a structure constricted toward Thereby, when discharging the liquid silicone rubber from the tank 1 and the storage tank 16, it is possible to avoid a relatively large amount of the liquid silicone rubber remaining in the tank. Therefore, operations such as washing in each tank when changing the type of liquid silicone rubber to be defoamed are easy.

  In the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the valve 9 is opened and the liquid feed pump 15 is driven, whereby the defoamed liquid silicone rubber in the tank 1 is sent into the storage tank 16 and stored. At this time, the inside of the storage tank 16 is preferably kept in a reduced pressure state. Then, a predetermined amount of the liquid silicone rubber in the storage tank 16 is sent to the next process through the pipe 18 by the metering pump 19.

  As described above, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10, the liquid silicone rubber defoamed in the tank 1 is temporarily stored, and a predetermined amount is sent out from the stored liquid silicone rubber as necessary. Even if there is only one tank, the defoamed liquid silicone rubber can be continuously supplied to the next step.

  Note that when a considerable amount of defoamed liquid silicone rubber is always stored in the container 3 of the tank 1 due to a small amount of liquid silicone rubber used per unit time in the next step, etc., it is removed from the tank 1. Since the foamed liquid silicone rubber can be stably supplied, as shown in FIG. 10, without storing the defoamed liquid silicone rubber in the storage tank 16, the tank 1 is connected to the next through the pipe 6. Liquid silicone rubber may be supplied directly to the process.

  Next, the molding apparatus of the present invention will be described.

    FIG. 11 is a conceptual diagram showing an embodiment of the molding apparatus of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 11, a drum pump 21 is attached to a drum 20 that stores liquid silicone rubber, and a supply pipe 5 extending from the drum pump 21 includes tanks 1a and 1b. Is connected to a supply port (not shown).

    A discharge pipe 6 is connected to a discharge port (not shown) of the defoaming apparatus A, and the discharge pipe 6 is connected to the metering pump 22. The metering pump 22 is further connected to an inlet of a mixer 23 such as a static mixer, and the outlet of the mixer 23 is connected to a supply port of a molding machine 25 such as an injection molding machine via a valve 24. ing. The inlet of the mixer 23 is further mixed with liquid silicone rubber, a pipe extending from a metering pump 27 connected to the first additive tank 26 for storing the additive to be mixed with the liquid silicone rubber, and the liquid silicone rubber. A pipe extending from the metering pump 29 connected to the second additive tank 28 for storing other additives to be connected is connected. The metering pump 22, metering pump 27, and metering pump 29 can be driven and controlled by hydraulic pressure, a motor, or the like. The liquid silicone rubber, the first additive, and the second additive are added to the mixer 23 at a predetermined timing. The agent can be delivered.

  In the example shown in FIG. 11, two additive tanks (26, 28) are provided, but the number of tanks is not limited to two, and an arbitrary number can be selected depending on the type of additive required. Can be installed. If mixing of the additive immediately before molding is unnecessary, the mixer 23, the first additive tank 26, the metering pump 27, the second additive tank 28, and the metering pump 29 may be omitted. it can. Further, when the quantitative supply of the liquid silicone rubber is unnecessary, the installation of the metering pump 22 can be omitted.

  In the case of a so-called two-component type in which liquid silicone rubber is used by mixing with a curing agent, the first additive tank 26 or the second additive tank 28 may be used as a curing agent tank. In this case, it is preferable that a defoaming operation is also performed for the curing agent. Therefore, it is preferable to defoam the curing agent supplied from the curing agent tank by the defoaming apparatus of the present invention.

  Next, the operation of the molding apparatus shown in FIG. 11 will be described. First, the liquid silicone rubber stored in the drum 20 is supplied to the defoaming device A through the supply pipe 5 by the drum pump 21. In the tanks 1a and 1b of the defoaming apparatus A, the liquid silicone rubber is defoamed in the procedure as described above, and the defoamed liquid silicone rubber is supplied to the metering supply pump 22 through the discharge pipe 6. .

  The fixed amount supply pump 22 sends a predetermined amount of liquid silicone rubber to the mixer 23. Since the liquid silicone rubber here has already been defoamed, the predetermined amount can be accurately delivered to the mixer 23.

  On the other hand, a predetermined amount of the first additive from the first additive tank 26 and a predetermined amount of the second additive from the second additive tank 28 by the constant supply pump 27 and the constant supply pump 29, respectively. The additive is fed to the mixer 23, and the first additive and the second additive are mixed with the liquid silicone rubber as the base material in the mixer 23 to obtain a molding material. The mixing operation in the mixer 23 can be performed until the mixture becomes uniform, and the mode of mixing is arbitrary.

  Then, the molding material uniformly mixed in the mixer 23 is supplied to the molding machine 25 through the valve 24 and molded into a molded product having a predetermined shape. The type of the molding machine 25 is arbitrary, and various moldings such as extrusion molding, compression molding, injection compression molding, blow molding, cast molding, and the like are not limited to injection molding by appropriately selecting a molding machine. Can be done. In the example shown in FIG. 11, the mixer 23, the valve 24, and the molding machine 25 are separately provided, but any or all of these may be integrated, for example, provided with a dynamic mixer. The injection molding machine can be used in place of the mixer 23, the valve 24 and the molding machine 25.

    In the molding apparatus shown in FIG. 11, since the bubbles are removed from the liquid silicone rubber as the base material by the defoaming apparatus A, bubbles and chips are not generated in the molded product. Further, since the defoamed liquid silicone rubber is continuously supplied from the defoaming apparatus A, it is not necessary to interrupt the operation of the molding machine 20 for defoaming the liquid silicone rubber, and the molding is performed over a long period of time. It can be carried out continuously.

    Further, when the remaining amount of the liquid silicone rubber in the drum 20 is reduced, the drum pump 21 may be blown out and air may be mixed into the liquid silicone rubber in the supply pipe 5. Since air mixed in the liquid silicone rubber is removed by the defoaming device A, it is necessary to replace the drum 20 with a large amount of liquid silicone rubber remaining in the drum 20 in order to prevent the drum pump 21 from being blown away. Absent. Therefore, loss of relatively expensive liquid silicone rubber is small, and efficient molding can be performed.

  The defoaming apparatus and molding apparatus of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 11 are not limited to liquid silicone rubber, and can be suitably used for any viscous fluid that requires defoaming.

Sectional drawing which shows one embodiment of the defoaming apparatus of the viscous fluid of this invention Lower plan view and cross-sectional view of sprinkler 10 (a, b) shown in FIG. Lower plan view showing another aspect of the sprinkler 10 (a, b) Conceptual sectional view showing a rat hole Sectional drawing which shows the other aspect of the defoaming apparatus of this invention, and the bottom plan view of the sprinkler 10 (a, b) in the said aspect Sectional drawing which shows the other aspect of the defoaming apparatus of this invention Sectional drawing which shows the other aspect of the defoaming apparatus of this invention Sectional drawing which shows the other aspect of the defoaming apparatus of this invention Sectional drawing which shows the other aspect of the defoaming apparatus of this invention Sectional drawing which shows the other aspect of the defoaming apparatus of this invention The conceptual diagram which shows one embodiment of the shaping | molding apparatus of this invention

Explanation of symbols

1: tank, 2: supply port, 3: accommodating part, 4: discharge port, 5 supply pipe, 6: discharge pipe, 7: vacuum pump, 8: valve, 9: valve, 10: sprinkler, 11: plate, 12 : Rod, 13: actuator, 14: pole, 15: liquid feed pump, 16: storage tank, 17: open end, 18: piping, 19: metering pump, 20: drum, 21: drum pump, 22: metering pump, 23: Mixer, 24: Valve, 25: Molding machine, 26: First additive tank, 27: Metering pump, 28: Second additive tank, 29: Metering pump

Claims (10)

A viscous fluid defoaming device comprising a container having a viscous fluid container and a supply port and a discharge port for the viscous fluid communicating with the container,
A supply pipe for supplying the viscous fluid to the supply port;
A control device for supplying the viscous fluid at the supply port;
A sprinkler that discharges the viscous fluid supplied from the supply port into the accommodating portion;
A pressure control device in the housing,
A discharge pipe for discharging the viscous fluid from the discharge port;
A defoaming device comprising a discharge control device for the viscous fluid at the discharge port. The defoaming device according to claim 1, comprising a plurality of the containers. The defoaming device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sprinkler has a hole and / or a slit for discharging the viscous fluid. The defoaming device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a plate that covers at least a part of the surface of the viscous fluid in the housing and is movable in the housing in the direction of the discharge port. The defoaming device according to claim 4, wherein the sprinkler is annularly arranged, and the plate is allowed to pass inside the ring. The defoaming device according to claim 4, wherein the plate comprises the sprinkler. The defoaming device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a viscosity of the viscous fluid is in a range of 1,000 to 50,000,000 mPa · s. The defoaming device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the viscous fluid is liquid silicone rubber. A defoaming device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, and a molding apparatus comprising a molding machine for the viscous fluid discharged from the discharge port of the defoaming device. The shaping | molding apparatus of Claim 9 provided with the fixed_quantity | feed_rate supply apparatus of the said viscous fluid between the said defoaming apparatus and the said molding machine.

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